Accordion.



PATENTED DEO. l2, 1905.

R. GARBONARI.

AGCORDION.

APPLIOATION FILED MARS. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R n @um a wwvw NOSE y @WM PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

R. CARBONARI.

ACCORDION.

APPLIOATION FILED Mmm. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I by the keys 6, the bass and melody keys be- RAFFAELE OARONARI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ACCOFDlON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 12, 1905.

Application led March 6. 1905. Serial No. 248,522.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, RAFFAELE OARBONARI, a Citizen of Italy, residing in the city and in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements iny Accordions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments, and especially to that class of musical instruments known as accordions.

The object of my invention is to e`ect certain improvements in accordions of the type shown in my prior patent, No. 760,730, May 24, 1904, thereby to provide an instrument which is capable of producing any desired change of tone either in the bass or in the treble.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved accordion-box with the cover removed, showing operating mechanism, omitting all but a few keys and valves and connections. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the irregular line .fr w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a bass-key and its connections. Fig'. 5 is a similar view of the melody or treble key and its connections.

A represents asuitable box or casing of desired size and shape in which the operating mechanism of the accordion is housed and to which the bellows B is connected in the usual manner. rIhe bottom of the box has two or more series of holes 2 opening into the bellows, and a valve is adapted to stop each hole. The usual sound-producing reeds, which are disposed in suitable relation to these holes and on the under side of the box, are not here shown, since they constitute no part of the present invention. There are two sets of valvesone, as 3, for the bass and the other, 4, for the treble or melody. The valves 3 are operated by the keys 5 and the valves 4 ing arranged alternately in the usual fashion.

The invention resides in the connections between the several keys and valves whereby an actuation of any single key may result in the production of a desired variety of tones or chords.

Inasmuch as all the keys, valves, and connections are alike, it is unnecessary to show more than two keys with their complete connections, Figs. 4 and 5, it being understood that there may be as many keys and as many rows of keys as desired, each key with its correspondingreed,valve, and connections. Each key has a stem 7 connected to one end of lever 8, pivoted in a fixed part of case A, and each lever connects with a bar 9, reciprocating in suitable guides in a direction parallel with, or substantially so, and opposite to the keys. Those levers 8 which connect with the bass-keys 5, Fig. 4, (and which will be termed the bass-levers,) each carry a bass-valve 3 and normally press against an oscillating slotted member 10, pivoted in the arm of a bellcrank lever 11, which also carries a bass-valve 3 and is fulcrumed just behind the bass-lever 8. Normally when a bass-key 5 is pushed in it will operate, through its lever 8 and a corresponding bell-crank lever 11, to open two bassvalves to produce an octave in bass.

In order that a bass-key 5 may only openy one bass-valve, and so produce a different tone effect than if both valves were opened simultaneously, I employ a lever 12, FiO. 1, projecting exterior to the casing, and a suitable chain of connections between said lever and a rock-shaft 13, which latter has a series of angular arms 14, each engaging the slot in a corresponding member 10. By pressing down on lever 12 a rock-shaft 15 and a lever 16 are operated to rock the shaft 13, and so lift up all the members 10, thus removing the valve which they previously presented to the basslevers 8 and causing only the valve 3, which is connected to the bass-lever operated on, to open. A spring 17 acts to throw the rockshaft in such position that the members 10 will normally be in the path of the bass-levers 8.

The bell-crank levers 11 and their operating connections, acting conjunctively with the regular valve-levers 8 or permitting the latter to operate alone, comprise the means for regulating the bass and constitute one feature of the present invention. Heretofore in accordions it has not been possible to play an octave in bass, much less play it with one key.

All the bars 9 carry one or more projections 18, Figs. 1 and 4, interposed in the path of rigid arms 19 on the rock-shafts 20. The latter correspond in number to the number of val ves 4 in the treble or melody, and a valve IOO 4 is connected to each one of these shafts, so

IIO

with one another, or, in other words, the opening' of these two valves willl produce a chord of two notes. In order to add other notes to this chord or' to vary the notes or the tones that a single key may produce independent of the pins 18, I provide the following mechanism: The bars 9, which are connected to the bass-levers 8, Fig. 4, (and which will be termed the bass-bars,) carry each a slotted rockable member 21, having the lateral wings or projections 22, which are interposable in the path of certain arms 19', disposed one on either side of a particular bass-bar and connected to suitable shafts 20, operating valves 4, which are in harmony. These arms 19', which may be intercepted by one or the other of the projections 22, according as member 21 is oscillated one way or the other, are quite independent of and in addition to the arm or arms caught by the pin or pins 18. Springs 20, Fig. 3, operate on the shafts 2O to rock them and arms 19' always in the same direction and to hold Valves 4 closed. Normally the members 21 stand in neutral position between their lanking arms 19 and only operate on the latter when pushed to one side or the other by suitable means, as the bar 23, which extends lengthwise of the box and is mounted to reciprocate in suitable end bearings 24, Fig. 2. This bar carries pins 25, Figs. 1 and 4, engaging slots 26 in the members 21, and the springs 27, Fig. 2, hold the bar so that it may move equally in one direction or the other to throw the rockable member 21 to one side or the other. The reciprocation of bar 23 is done by suitable means, as a lever 28, Figs. 2 and 3, fixed to a fulcrum-shaft 29, which connects by a projection 30 with the bar and which shaft is rockable in both directions. Thus it is seen that by rocking lever 28 one Way or the other a different melody-valve 4 is opened, and the note resulting by the opening of this valve is 'added to the melody note or notes resulting ordinarily from the pushing inward of any single bass-key.

The bars 9, which connect with the treble or melody levers 8, Fig. 5, (or those disconnected with the bass-valves 3,) carry two sets of slotted rockable members 31 32, quite similar in construction and mode of operation to the members 21, which are carried by the bassbars 9. These members 81 32 are for the purpose of still further varying or increasing the number or quality of the musical tone combinations; but instead of these members acting directly on arms 19 they operate on respective projections 33 34 on corresponding' bars 35 36, arranged in pairs between the succeeding bars 9. The bars 35 36 are independently movable, and each carries one or more pins 37, which intercept certain arms 19 on certain of the rock-shafts 20. Member 31 is rockable positively only in one direction,while member 32 is rockable, like member 21, in both directions. Member 31 is normally thrown to one side against a projection 33, and so long as it stays in that position it causes always a certain note to be sounded whenever the corresponding treble-key 6 is pushed in. By throwing the member 31 clear over' to the other side to engage the other projection S3 a different note is sounded instead. This os` cillation of members 31 is accomplished by a reciprocating bar 38, having pins engaginr' slots 39 in the members 31 and normally pushed in one direction by a spring 40, Fig. 1. A lever 41, Figs. 1 and 3, acts through a rockJ shaft 42, a rocker-arm 43, and a link 44 to reciprocate bar 38 in opposition to spring 40. Members 32 are normally disposed in line with their bars 9 and out of engagement with either of the projections 34. They are rocked in either direction by precisely the same sort of means as were employed to rock members 21-to wit. a bar 45, spring-supported at the ends, a rock-shaft 46. and a lever 47.

From the foregoing it will be observed that lever 12 acts only on bass-valves 3, that lever 28 acts inA conjunction with the bass-keys and their bars 9, and that levers 41 and 47 act only in conjunction with the melody-keys and their bars 9, although the effect of all the three levers 28, 41, and 47 is to vary in some degree the notes in the melody by moving some of the melody-valves4 and have no effect on the bass.

The rockable members 21, 31, and 32, their respective reciprocating bars 23, 38, and 45, and their operating means constitute the other important feature of my invention. By their use and the use of the bell-crank levers 11 and kindred connections .l get an immense variety of tone combinations both in the bass and treble not heretofore possible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a musical instrument of the'character described, the combination of a casing, operating-keys, levers connected with the keys, a set of bass-valves connected with and operatable by said levers, a second set of. bass-valves and means by which said second set of bassvalves may be thrown into operative relation with said levers, said last-named means comprising' bell-crank levers to which said second set of valves are connected, and pivoted members carried by said bell-crank levers normally interposed in the path of the levers which are connected with the operating-keys.

2. In a musical instrument of the character IOO IIS

described, the combination of a casing, operbers` carried by said bell-crank'levers normally interposed in the path of the levers which are connected with the operating-keys, and means for operating said pivoted members to throw them into inoperative position.

3. In a musical instrument of the character described, the combination of acasing, operating-keys, levers connected with the keys, a set of bass-valves connected with and operatable by said levers, a second set of bass-valves and means by which said second set of bassvalves may be thrown into operative relation with said levers, said last-named means comprising bell-crank levers to which said second set of 4valves are connected, pivoted members carried by said bell-crank levers, and a springpressed rock-shaft having projections engaging slots in said pivoted members to throw them into or out of the path of the firstnamed levers.

4. In a musical instrument of the class described, the combination of operating-keys, levers with which said keys are connected, reciprocating bars connecting with said levers, a series of rock-shafts each carrying a valve, arms on said shafts engageable by said bars on the operation of the keys and rockable members carried by certain of said bars and engageable with certain of said rockerrms as are not ordinarily actuated by said ars.

5. In a musical instrument of the class described, the combination of operating-keys, levers with which said keys are connected, reciprocating bars connecting with said levers, a series of rock-shafts each carrying a valve, arms on said shafts engageable by said bars on the operation of the keys and rockable members carried by certain of said bars and engageable with certain of said rockerarms as are not ordinarily actuated by said bars, said rockable members being slotted and a part reciprocal transverse to the movement ot' said bars having projections engaging said slots to move said rockable members.

6. In an accordion, a key, a lever connected with said key, a reciprocating bar connected with said lever, a pivoted member on said bar and reciprocable with and rockable from side to side thereof, valves and means connected with the valves interposable in the path of said rockable member to permit one valve or another to be opened according as to whether said rockable member is turned to one side or the other, and means for operating said rockable member.

7. In an accordion, a key, a lever connected with said key, a reciprocating bar connected with said lever., a pivoted member on said bar rockable fromY side to side thereof, valves and means connected with the valves interposable in the path of said rockable member to permit one valve or another to be opened according as to whether said rockable member is turned to one side or the other and means for operating said rockable member, said lastnamed means comprising' a part reciprocal at right angles to the bar and having a projection engaging the said rockable member.

8. In an accordion, the combination with an operating-key, of a lever connected therewith, a reciprocating bar connected with the lever, rock-shafts, valves connected with and operatable by said rock-shafts, arms on said rock-shafts, a supplemental reciprocating bar arranged parallel with the iirst-named bar and having means to engage one of said arms to operate a corresponding valve and means carried by the first-named bar to engage the supplemental bar to operate said corresponding stop.

9. In an accordion, the combination of an operating-key and a lever connected therewith, a reciprocating bar connected with the lever, rock-shafts, valves carried by said rockshafts, arms on the rock-shafts, supplemental reciprocating bars on each of said first-named bars and having means to engage corresponding rocker-arms on the bar which is connected with the lever to engage either of said supplemental bars.

10. In an accordion, the combination of an operating-key and a leverl connected therewith, a reciprocating bar connected with the lever, rock-shafts, valves carried by said rockshafts, arms on the rock-shafts, supplemental reciprocating bars on each of said iirst-named bars and having means to engage corresponding rocker-arms on the bar which is connected with the lever to engage either oi said supplemental bars, said last-named means including a slotted rockable member and a spring-pressed part reciprocal at right angles to said part, engaging said member.

11. In an accordion, the combination of a lever pivoted intermediate of its ends, an operating-key connected with one end of the lever, a sliding bar connected with the other end of the lever, a rock-shaft, a valve operated by said rock-shaft, a projection-on said rockshaft, a rockable member on said sliding bar interposable in the path of the projection on said rock-shaft, and means to operate said rockable member.

12. In an accordion, the combination of a valve, a rock-shaft, connections between the rock-shaft and valve for operating the latter, a projection on the rock-shaft, a sliding part, a rockable member carried by said part engageable with said projection, a key, connections between the key and said part to operate the latter, and means to operate said rockable member.

13. In an accordion, the combination of a valve, a rock-shaft, connections between the rock-shaft and valve for operating the latter, a projection on the rock-shaft, a sliding part, a rockable member carried by said part engageable with said projection, a key, connections between the key and said part to operate IOO the latter, means to operate said rockable member, a supplementary sliding part, means on the first sliding part to operate the said second sliding' part, a second valve, and means operated by said second sliding part to operate said second valve.

14. In an accordion, the combination of a valve, a rock-shaft, connections between the rock-shaft and valve for operating the latter, a projection on the rock-shaft, a sliding part, a rockable member carried by said part engageable with said projection, a key, connections between the key and said part to operate the latter, and means to operate said rockable member, said means for operating said rockable member including a sliding bar having a projection to engage a slot in the rockable member.

15. In an accordion, thecombination of a key, a lever connected therewith, a valve operated by the lever, a second lever disposed behind the first-named lever, a second valve operated by said second lever, and a coupler i'or the levers including a pivoted member carried by the second lever and interposable in the path of the iirst-named lever, and means to operate said pivoted member to throw it into or ont ot' the path of the first-named lever.

16. In an accordion, a sliding part, pivoted members carried by said part and reciproca- .ble therewith, a key, and connections between the key and said part to reciprocate the latter, means to rock said pivoted members, valves, and means connected with the valves interposable in the path of said rockable members to operate the valves.

17. In an accordion, a sliding` part, rockable members carried by said part and .having lateral projections on either side thereof, valves, rock-shafts, connections between the rockshat'ts and valves to operate the latter, projections on said rock-shafts interposable in the path of the lateral projections on said rockable members, and means tooperate the latter.

18. In an accordion, a sliding part, rockable members carried by said part and having lateral projections on either side thereof, valves, rock-shafts, connections between the rockshafts and valves to operate the latter, projections on said rock-shafts interposable in the path of tne lateral projections on said rockable members, means to operate the latter, and means for holding certain of said rockable members in normal inoperative position relative to the rock-shaft projections,

19. In an accordion, a sliding part, rockable members carried by said part and having lateral projections on either side thereof, valves, rock-shat`ts, connections between the rockshafts and valves to operate the latter, projections on said rock-shafts interposable in the path of the lateral projections on said rockable members, means to operate the latter, means for holding certain of said rockable members to normal inoperative position relative to the rock-shaft projections, and means for holding certain other of said rockable members in normal operative position relative to their respective rock-shaft projections. In testimony whcreotl I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAFFAELE GARBONARI. Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, JEssIE C. BRODIE. 

